Shama Nathoo
Managing Director, Universal Accesibility Hub
Shama Nathoo is the Founding Member of Universal Accessibility Hub trading as Universal Accessibility Tourism Association, former Board Member of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, a Public-Private Strategist, and a Brand Champion.
For over 25 years she has helped identify strategic opportunities that create a meaningful change in organisations through open dialogue and creativity.
Her interest in Universal Access grew and was inspired by the late Ma Beatrice Ngcobo who was the Chairperson of the Parliament Tourism Portfolio Committee in South Africa and her own adjustment to living with a disabling illness. Shama met Ma Beatrice in May 2014, whilst serving the then national Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom. Ma Beatrice was known to many as a strong figure driving issues of accessibility for persons with disability across many sectors. The wise words remain with Shama when she reached Ma Beatrice, who was wheelchair bound, with only a few drops of water from the Sacred Isivivane at Freedom Park, ‘it’s not how much water you bring me, but your intention to bring it and let me share in the experience’.
She is the organiser of the first Miss Wheelchair South Africa in December 2021 and believes that it is time for the voices and faces of persons with disability that has been glaringly absent from the public arena to be heard and to be mainstreamed driving key messages – “beauty has no barriers” AND “leave no one behind”.
Shama served as an Influencer/guest speaker/panel member at Meetings Africa; Africa’s Travel Indaba, Tourism Grading Council of SA (TGCSA) Assessors Conference, Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA), Women in Tourism, Cape Town Tour Guides Association and the Africa Travel and Tourism Summit driving the inclusion of all abilities for memorable inclusive tourism experiences.
She currently serves as a General Committee member at the Royal Cape Yacht Club driving transformation, accessibility and gender equality. And Honorary Member of Milnerton Aquatic Club supporting disability sailing and former member of South African Sailing.
She also served as a co-editor of Healing Diabetes and Other Lifestyle Diseases with African Vegan Whole Food Recipe Book.
Ms Nathoo has a postgraduate degree in Business Administration and a postgraduate certificate in Executive Leadership. She lives by walking the talk to implement and drive change through practicing the philosophy shared by South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done”.
:
www.uahub.org.za
:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shama-nathoo-47b88318/
